US Marine Hall Future – Attracting Plenty of Comment

Consultation around the future
of the US Marine Hall in Titahi Bay is attracting plenty of
community feedback.

The 1942 hall has been identified as a
heritage building and is the long-time base of the Porirua
Little Theatre, however it has been closed by water damage
and Porirua City Council alone cannot afford the restoration
bill.

The Council is exploring alternative funding
options, including looking for partners to help with
repairing or restoring the building.

Residents are being
asked for their views on what should happen if substantial
funding assistance can’t be found. Should efforts be made
to fund restoration of the hall anyway or should it be
demolished and the reserve site used for something
else?

Consultation began on July 26 and closes on
September 5. After just 2 weeks of consultation around 50
responses had been received.

Deputy Mayor ‘Ana Coffey
says it is important to hear from residents from across
Porirua City about what they feel should be done with the
building and the reserve site it is on.

“This is not
just about a community hall in Titahi Bay. This is an issue
for all Porirua residents and we are keen to hear your views
on whether we should be investing in it further."

The hall
was purpose built as a recreation hall for the Marines
camped temporarily at the old Titahi Bay golf course.
Although the Marines used the hall for less than a year, it
has remained a community hall since.

It has historic
significance as one of the few surviving structures from any
of the US Marine camps in New Zealand and still has most of
its original structure and fabric.

The options for its
future are:

Demolition: Minimum
cost of $30,000 – there are likely to be more costs
associated with the Resource Management Act consenting
process and rehabilitation of the reserve
site,

Basic repair: $330,000
approx. This involves just enough repair work to lift the
Dangerous and Insanitary notice, and to allow public use.
Repairs include weather-tightness, building compliance and
partial internal fit-out. Further expenditure will be
required in the medium term, for example
re-roofing,

Comprehensive
repair/restoration: $700,000 to $820,000 for
complete repair/restoration - retaining some original
material.

Demolish and replace with new
building: $1million plus.

To find out more and to
give feedback online go to www.pcc.govt.nz (keyword US
Marine Hall).

Hard copies of the discussion paper and
freepost survey form are also available at the Council's
main building in Cobham Court and at city libraries. Copies
have also been sent to every household in Titahi Bay, To
find out more contact your local Councillors, or Lisa Gooch
(Senior Policy Analyst, Heritage and Environment): phone 04
237-3841 or email
lgooch@pcc.govt.nz.

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